Egyptian Schist Block Statue of an Official

This remarkably artistic sculpture depicts a man squatting on the ground, his legs bent towards his chest and his arms crossed over his knees. His name would have been inscribed on the posterior pillar. The block statue sculptural type dates back to the 12th dynasty and was typically reserved for senior officials (of non-royal rank). During the Late Period, it was popular to place these statues in the temples, allowing the deceased to participate in religious life.

Art market, prior to 1999;

Ex- Gawain McKinley private collection, London, Paris, New York;

Sotheby’s, New York, 5 June 1999, lot 63;

The Gilbert collection, Cambridge, Massachusetts, acquired in New York, 5 June 1999

Sotheby’s, New York, 5 June 1999, lot 63;

The Gilbert Collection: by Phoenix Ancient Art, New York, 2019, no. 30

La Biennale, Paris, 2019;

PAD London, 2019